How to Control Mistletoe

Cut the infested branch off the tree, making the cut about 6 to 12 inches from the mistletoe to ensure you remove all parts of the parasitic plant. Ideally, cut just in front of a larger branch. Prune infested branches as soon as you see mistletoe growth, before it sets seed and spreads. Use a ladder or pole pruners to prune branches too high to reach.

Cut mistletoe from larger branches that cannot be removed or if removing the branch will dramatically affect the overall look of the tree. Prune the mistletoe flush with the branch. Wrap the cut area with three or four layers of black polyethylene, covering an additional 6 to 12 inches on both sides of the cut. Secure with tape. Wrap the plastic so it blocks out sunlight, but do not wrap it so tightly that it damages the limb. Remove the plastic after two years, at which time the mistletoe should be dead.

Mix 1 cup of ehtephon in 1 gallon of water when treating dwarf-type mistletoe varieties. Or, mix 2 cups of ethephon per 1 gallon of water when treating leafy-type mistletoe varieties. Put the mixture in a spray bottle and spray the mistletoe thoroughly with the growth regulator. Do this in early spring before the host tree leafs out. Temperatures should be at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit during the day for the chemical to work effectively. Repeat each spring while the host tree is still dormant to control the spread of mistletoe. Check the label because dilution rates vary among brands, the types of mistletoe and types of host trees.